There are three major types of alveolar cell. Two types are
pneumocytes or pneumonocytes
known as type I and type II cells found in the alveolar wall, and a large phagocytic cell known as an alveolar macrophage that moves about in the lumens of the alveoli, and in the connective tissue between them.
What cells make up alveoli quizlet?
broad, simple squamous epithelial cells
that make up the majority of the cells lining the walls of the alveoli.
What are alveoli type 2 cells?
Type II cells are
defenders of the alveoli by secreting surfactant
, keeping the alveolar space relatively free from fluid, serving as progenitor cells to repopulate the epithelium after injury, and providing important components of the innate immune system.
What are the three types of cells found in the alveoli quizlet?
- Dust Cells (Alveolar macrophages)
- Type 1 Pneumocyte.
- Type 2 Pneumocyte.
What are the 3 cells that make up the alveoli?
- Type 1 pneumocytes.
- Type 2 pneumocytes.
- Alveolar macrophages.
What happens in the alveoli?
The alveoli are where
the lungs and the blood exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide during the process of breathing in and breathing out
. Oxygen breathed in from the air passes through the alveoli and into the blood and travels to the tissues throughout the body.
How do alveoli work?
The alveoli
pick up the incoming energy (oxygen) you breathe in and release the outgoing waste product (carbon dioxide) you exhale
. As it moves through blood vessels (capillaries) in the alveoli walls, your blood takes the oxygen from the alveoli and gives off carbon dioxide to the alveoli.
What is the function of the dust cells in the alveoli?
They are responsible for
removing particles such as dust or microorganisms from the respiratory surfaces
. Alveolar macrophages are frequently seen to contain granules of exogenous material such as particulate carbon that they have picked up from respiratory surfaces.
Where are the alveoli found quizlet?
Alveoli are hollow sacs
in the lungs at the ends of the bronchioles
, designed for the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide.
What is produced by type II pneumocytes quizlet?
Type II pneumocytes secrete
fluid that lines the inside of the alveolus
. The fluid contains a surfactant.
How many types of alveoli are there?
The alveolar epithelium comprises
two main cell types
: the alveolar type I and alveolar type II cell. The type I cell is a complex branched cell with multiple cytoplasmic plates that are greatly attenuated and relatively devoid of organelles; these plates represent the gas exchange surface in the alveolus.
How many alveoli are there?
There are about
600 million alveoli
in your lungs and if you stretched them out, they would cover an entire tennis court. Now that’s a load of alveoli!
What cell are in the lungs?
The lungs contain many different types of cells. Most cells in the lung are
epithelial cells
. Epithelial cells line the airways and make mucus, which lubricates and protects the lung. The lung also contains nerve cells, hormone-producing cells, blood cells, and structural or supporting cells.
What are the characteristics of alveoli?
- they give the lungs a really big surface area.
- they have moist, thin walls (just one cell thick)
- they have a lot of tiny blood vessels called capillaries.
What causes damage to the alveoli?
When you exhale, the alveoli shrink, forcing carbon dioxide out of the body. When
emphysema
develops, the alveoli and lung tissue are destroyed. With this damage, the alveoli cannot support the bronchial tubes. The tubes collapse and cause an “obstruction” (a blockage), which traps air inside the lungs.
